I really could name today’s “thoughts for the weekend” something
like “rules for living”.
There is so much devastation going on in the world, terrorist attacks,
people against people in our own country.
And what about Pokemon GO?
No, I am not playing, and I am not judging if you do. I love geocaching, and the way I understand it,
this Pokemon GO craze is pretty much the same concept. So have fun with it.
But back to the main topic – there is so much sadness. Can we
just be nice?
“If you want others to be happy, practice
compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
~Dalai Lama
Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Soooo, why is it so difficult?
The web page
goes on to say ” Acts of kindness
makes us feel good, valuable and alive. Think about the last time you went out
of your way to be kind to someone. Didn’t it make your day too? Many
people extend kindness as part of their good nature, but what if
we made a more conscious effort to be even kinder by practicing kindness
regularly? We will be spreading good feelings and making a
difference that has a lasting, ripple effect and undoubtedly changing
the world.
Practicing random kindness
while expecting nothing in return except the good feelings that these acts
provide is life-giving. Below are 100 ways to “pay it forward” as the term has
been coined. Some are simple and some might take you out of your comfort zone.
At the end of your life, what a better way to be
remembered than that of a “kind” person.”
The Bible says that we should not boast of our good deeds, but
to do them anonymously.
“Beware of practicing
your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then
you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give
to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues
and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you,
they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let
your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be
in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. – Matthew 6:1-4
So here is my challenge to you.
I copied the list from the webpage - do one or more of the things on this list
today.
Don’t tell me, don’t tell your friends, don’t post it on FB.
Just do it.
Tomorrow do another one.
Sunday another.
Try to do something every single day.
Make a difference for someone.
I’d bet it will make a difference for you.
1. Pay for the person behind you at the drive thru. Whether it
be a coffee or a whole meal. Make sure to stay anonymous and relay a friendly
message to the person like “Have a nice day!” or “Spread kindness and pay it
forward”.
2. Leave a gift for someone in a random public place such as on
a park bench, at a bus stop, the library, a coffee house, or restaurant. You
can even stick around and catch them finding your gift to see their reaction!
3. Praise someone at work for a job well done when the occasion
arises. Best to do this in front of other coworkers or his or her boss.
4. Tutor a younger person in reading. You can find a local
literacy volunteer organization through a Google search on “Literacy Volunteers
Your State.”
5. Send someone you know who is going through a difficult time a
card, flowers, cookies or some thoughtful expression that lets them know that
you care and are thinking of him or her.
6. Volunteer at a homeless shelter, helping serve a meal or with
any organization that you feel passionate about. VolunteerMatch is a great
website where you can find many organizations in need of help and searchable by
zip code, state and keywords.
7. Be compassionate for a person’s situation next time he or she
is rude or inconsiderate to you, instead of getting defensive. They might be
having a bad day or need to hear a kind word. This doesn’t mean to be a
doormat, but to consider what someone may be going through and giving them a
pass.
8. Organize a clothing or food drive with your neighbors for a
local shelter. Your taking initiative to collect and distribute items to the
shelter will not only make it easy for them to give, but will also inspire them
while helping others.
9. Lend an elderly person a hand if you see them struggle to reach
something in the grocery store or while doing another activity.
10. Express your gratitude to a teacher or someone who has made
a difference in your life. With a letter or in person, share with them how
their kindness, support or a gesture has affected you and how grateful you are
to know or have known them. You can be sure that you will make their day and
even move them deeply.
11. Buy a dozen donuts or bagels for a sports team at a local
school, a firehouse or police station.
12. Thank a service person such as your postman, military, a
police officer or fireman for their hard work and dedication to serving others.
You can simply say thank you or even create a special surprise for them.
13. Talk to the person at the party who is struggling with
socializing. You never know what incredible, life-changing conversation you may
have with them.
14. Buy 10 lottery tickets and give them out to people on the
street, wishing them good luck.
15. Take a child or group of children that you know on a special
trip somewhere such as a zoo, the circus, a museum, or the local playground.
16. Cheer up a loved one by giving them an unexpected gift. You
don’t need to spend a lot; it’s the thought that counts.
17. Hide notes of encouragement in your spouse’s or child’s
lunch box or in a coat pocket, shoes or other place where he or she will
receive this nice little surprise.
18. Start a campaign to help an individual or a group. Take for
example: Maisie Devore who decided that the children in her community of
Eskridge, Kansas should have a swimming pool for hot summer days. She redeemed
aluminum cans at the local recycling center for cash to raise the money for the
pool, sparking a crusade that went on for 30 years until she met her goal!
19. Call someone who you haven’t talked to in awhile and let
them know that you’ve been thinking about them and that you are sorry you’ve
been out of touch.
20. Enroll your children in going through their toys and
donating the ones that they don’t want. This teaches children to be of service
at a young age. Bring them with you to the place where you will be making the
donation so they can see the appreciation of the organization and feel good
about themselves.
21. Offer to babysit a friend or neighbor’s child so that they
can have a well-deserved night out.
22. Plant a tree or flowers in a neglected area in your
neighborhood. A modern day Johnny Appleseed who sees the world in plants has
been transforming his neighborhood one tree at a time.
23. Help a family in financial need by cooking them a meal,
bringing them groceries, giving them clothing, or even money. Do it in a way
that makes them feel good about your gift.
24. Sincerely compliment someone every day, whether it be their
physical appearance, their character, or what they’ve accomplished in spite of
difficulties.
25. Let someone into traffic who looks like they are in a
rush. Remember though to be very
cautious especially if either of your vision is impaired.
26. Shop for someone who is homebound or ill, especially in bad
weather.
27. Talk to people you encounter every day like at your coffee
shop or on your commute, even if it’s for a minute or just to say hello. This
small exchange helps to make people feel recognized and valued.
28. Spend the day giving out free hugs to people in the mall or
on a busy street..
29. At dinner every night this week, talk about kindness with
your family. Ask questions like, “What kind act did you do today?” and “What
kind act did someone do for you?”
30. The next time you have exceptional service at a restaurant
make sure to tell the waitperson’s manager what a fine job they did, either in
person or in writing.
31. Donate your used books and/or magazines to a local library.
32. Let a debt go that someone owes you whether it be monetary
or something else which has them feel indebted to you. Only ask that they “pay
it forward” in the future when there comes an opportunity to help someone else.
33. Give up your seat on the train or bus to an elderly or
pregnant person, or someone who looks tired.
34. Create a craft that can be brought into a local children’s
hospital. Some ideas include knitted items, quilts and beaded necklaces.
35. Give up complaining for 21 days and, as a result, become
more positive, hopeful and optimistic as the website “A Complaint Free World”
says. Not complaining is kind because your positivity will help others to do
the same.
36. Greet people with a smile and an enthusiastic hello. You can
do this in person as well as over the phone. People will appreciate your warm
reception of them and feel welcomed.
37. Send someone an e-card for a special occasion or to let them
know that you are thinking about them. A great website for e-cards is
www.gratefulness.org.
38. Grow your hair long and donate your ponytail to Locks of
Love, an organization that makes wigs out of real hair to give to children who
have lost their hair during cancer treatments.
39. Listen to people with interest, concern and compassion,
giving them your full attention. Hugh Elliot said it in a nutshell: “All people
want is someone to listen.”
40. Treat a friend to a nice dinner and movie for no special
occasion, just to celebrate a friendship.
41. Write a referral for someone who you know is looking for a
job without them asking.
42. Leave a newspaper, magazine or even a book at a coffee house
once you’ve read it for the next person. You can add a note that says you hope
they will enjoy it as much as you did.
43. Mentor an at-risk child or teenager by becoming a big
brother or sister with the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation and help them
achieve their potential.
44. Say good morning or hello to passersby during your day, even
if you don’t know them, simply as a friendly gesture.
45. Use less plastic or none at all because it’s kind to the
environment.
46. Bring your co-workers a special treat such as donuts,
homemade brownies or cookies. This will brighten their day!
47. Adopt a soldier and help a soldier in a variety of ways such
as sending note cards, donating items, or hosting an event for a veteran.
48. Be kind to someone you dislike by going out of your way to
say hello and how are you. This could be the start of an unexpected friendship.
49. Donate blood to the Red Cross and tell of your experience,
encouraging others to do the same.
50. Encourage someone who may be at a low point in life. Whether
a parent, sibling, child, coworker, friend, or neighbor, a little support can
help motivate them to see things differently.
51. Write a thank you note when someone does something nice for
you, letting them know how much you appreciated their generosity. This extra
effort leaves lasting goodwill.
52. Forgive someone who has wronged you. This can be difficult
and challenging, but by making amends either in person, in writing or in your
thoughts, can have a transformative effect on your life..
53. Ask for forgiveness. Whether the hurt you caused was
intentional or not, commit to asking the person you have hurt for forgiveness.
This can be done in person or, a less confrontational way, by writing a letter.
54. Buy an inspirational book for someone who needs some
uplifting.
55. Make a child’s wish come true through the Make a Wish
Foundation, the nation’s largest wish-granting organization. You can help give
hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions.
56. Give a presentation to a classroom of students on your
occupation or an area of interest that you are passionate about.
57. If you see a car on the side of the road, pull over and
offer assistance such as help with changing a tire or offer your cell phone for
their use. Be sure that you are safe and away from traffic.
58. Get together with some members of your community and lead a
project that can benefit a nonprofit organization. Perhaps you can collect
items or make crafts to donate, organize an outing for the people in need, or
have a celebration of some sort with the nonprofit.
59. Start a blog or website that can help people. You can also
sell advertising and then donate some of the proceeds to a nonprofit.
60. When you get the urge to make an unkind remark to a loved
one, think again. Those words can have a negative impact affecting the person,
in some cases, for a lifetime.
61. Create T-shirts, hats and other apparel on Zazzle or
CafePress that have inspirational messages and give some away to people you
know to kick off your business.
62. Loan money to a relative or friend who may be without a job
and requires financial assistance. You may not be able to give much but what
you give will mean a great deal to a person in need.
63. Leave a $10.00 bill in an open public place for someone to
find. You will make their day! But be sure it’s not in a place where it may be
turned in by an honest person.
64. Read a book to a child or an elderly person.
65. Visit a senior center and make a presentation on a favorite
topic of yours or organize a game or movie night.
66. Be kinder to yourself by embarking on a self-care crusade.
This can mean taking better care of your health, getting regular massages,
meditating, taking a yoga class, watching your finances by going on a budget,
leaving a bad relationship, going after what you want in life, and avoiding
negative self-talk. Make it your priority every day to take better care of
yourself!
67. When you have finished mowing your lawn, mow your neighbors
too! Be sure to ask them first and let them know that you are practicing
kindness, and they would help you if they agreed to your offer.
68. This year, pay special attention to your children by reading
to them, taking them on day trips, playing with them outside, helping with
school projects, and truly listening to what they have to say. These are the
things they will remember forever!
69. Enter someone in a competition who you think deserves
recognition in some area such as “Business Person of the Year”.
70. Donate your expertise to someone in need. For example, if
you are a marketing consultant, offer your services to an entrepreneur who needs
help in developing his or her business. If you have a knack for fixing things,
lend a hand to a neighbor who may need some handy work done around their house.
71. Volunteer for Meals on Wheels and prepare and deliver meals
to homebound seniors in your community.
72. Say “thank you” and “please” as generously and often as
possible.
73. The next time someone shares a goal or a dream they have
really encourage them to pursue it, requesting that they take some kind of
action within a certain timeframe. Then, if they agreed to a date to fulfill
their goal, make sure to follow-up with them when that date arrives.
74. Always keep your word. This is one of the kindest things you
can do, especially when it comes to arriving on time to parties, appointments,
and to meet friends or family. Being your word, acting in line with what you
say, is a true expression of respect towards others.
75. Think about a loved one or friend who has a need and respond
to that need. Whether it be to lend support in their job search, helping them
with a project, or just offering your ear whenever they need to talk.
76. Tolerate a loved one’s behavior a little more than usual.
This may have them wondering what’s gotten into you, and you can respond that
you are practicing compassion to be an even kinder, better person.
77. Wave to someone on a school bus, on a boat, from your
window, whenever you see an opportunity.
78. Use less energy by remembering to shutoff lights, carpool to
work, turn down the heat, use CFLs instead of regular light bulbs, and other
kind measures to help take care of our precious environment.
79. Own a snow blower? Cruise around the neighborhood to see if
anyone needs snow cleared from their driveway. This can be especially kind to
an elderly person who may not be able to shovel snow or even get outside for
that matter.
80. Stick up for a person who has been treated wrongly.
81. Do some internet or library research for a family member or
friend on a topic of interest to them. Print out this information you find and
mail it to them with a heart-warming note saying that you thought they might
like this.
82. Give someone recognition on your blog or website who
deserves it. You can start a special section for acknowledgements.
83. Comment on a blog where someone is making a special effort
to educate or help people. Not often enough do people who do good in the world
everyday get acknowledged for their efforts. You can even aim to do this once a
week on a new blog.
84. Pick up the clothes from the floor of the department store
that others have mistakenly dropped.
85. Let someone, who only has a few items, go ahead of you in
the checkout line of the supermarket.
86. Dedicate a star to someone. International Star Registry is a
company where you can name a star for someone for any occasion, and they will
provide a personalized star kit for that person.
87. Make amends with someone from your past who you treated
wrongly. Search the person out if you have lost touch and reach out to them by
phone or mail.
88. Be honest. The next time you are tempted to tell a white lie
or leave something out that the person has a right to know tell the truth. This
is always the kinder thing to do even when it may sting the person initially,
in the long run people want to know for the most part.
89. Throw someone a surprise party to acknowledge a birthday, a
homecoming or milestone. Plan to have a few people speak about how this person
has impacted their life and all that is special about them.
90. Become a foster parent and provide a loving home to a child
who truly needs one. You can contact the National Foster Parent Association to
get started.
91. Adopt a pet from the humane society near you. You can even
search for a pet locally through Adopt-a-Pet.com.
92. Help out the new co-worker by graciously answering
questions, going out of your way to show them things, inviting them to lunch,
and even becoming a friend.
93. Help your child with small acts of kindness such as giving a
small gift to their teacher, serving free lemonade on a hot day or washing
cars.
94. Invite someone new for dinner such as a neighbor, co-worker,
friend, or family member. Don’t worry if you can’t cook. The gesture is what
counts.
95. Write your “Bucket List”, a list of all the things you want
to do with your life and include at least one act of radical kindness.
96. Help someone who wants to lose weight by being an exercise
buddy. You can offer to go to the gym with that person or be an attentive ear
when the person needs help sticking to the goal. This can be offered for anything
for that matter, to someone who drinks, smokes or shops too much.
97. Blow up a bunch of balloons and randomly hand them out to
children at a beach, park or ball game. Watch their faces light up with
surprise and gratitude.
98. Give your spouse or mate a much needed back or foot massage.
Ask for nothing in return.
99. Create some inspiring signs and hang them up around town.
100. Finally, resolve to Be Real in life. A truly kind person
will be authentic with their words and actions, realizing the negative or
positive impact they can have in every encounter.
